text:
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In his inaugural address Monday, President Obama made climate change a priority of his second term. It may be too late.
Within the lifetimes of today's children, scientists say, the climate could reach a state unknown in civilization.
In that time, global carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels are on track to exceed the limits that scientists believe could prevent catastrophic warming. CO2 levels are higher than they have been in 15 million years.
The Arctic, melting rapidly and probably irreversibly, has reached a state that the Vikings would not recognize.
"We are poised right at the edge of some very major changes on earth," said Anthony Bar nosky, a UC Berkeley professor of biology who studies the interaction of climate change with population growth and land use. "We really are a geological force that's changing the planet."
The Arctic melt is occurring as the planet is just 0.8 degree Celsius (1.4 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than it was in pre-industrial times.
At current trends, the earth could warm by four degrees Celsius in 50 years, according to a November World Bank report.
The coolest winter months would be much warmer than today's hottest summer months, the report said. "The last time earth was four degrees warmer than it is now was about 14 million years ago," Barnosky said.
Experts said it is technically feasible to halt such changes by nearly ending the use of fossil fuels. It would require a wholesale shift to renewable fuels that the United States, let alone China and other developing countries, appears unlikely to make.
Indeed, many Americans do not believe humans are changing the climate.
"Science is not opinion, it's not what we want it to be," said Katherine Hayhoe, an evangelical Christian, climatologist at Texas Tech University and lead author on the draft climate assessment report issued this month by the National Climate Assessment and Development Advisory Committee.
"You can't make a thermometer tell you it's hotter than it is," said Hayhoe, who with her husband, a linguist and West Texas pastor, has written a book on climate change addressed to evangelicals.
"And it's not just about thermometers or satellite instruments," she said. "It's about looking in our own backyards, when the trees are flowering now compared to 30 years ago, what types of birds and butterflies and bugs we see that ... used to be further south."
Robins are arriving two weeks early in Colorado. Frogs are calling sooner in Ithaca, N.Y. The Sierra Nevada snowpack is melting earlier. Cold snaps like the one gripping the East still happen, but less often. The frost-free season has lengthened 21 days in California, nine days in Texas and 10 in Connecticut, according to the draft climate assessment.
Scientists are loath to pin a specific event such as Hurricane Sandy or floods in England to global warming.
But "the risk of certain extreme events, such as the 2003 European heat wave, the 2010 Russian heat wave and fires, and the 2011 Texas heat wave and drought has ... doubled or more," said Michael Wehner, a staff scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and co-author of the climate assessment report. "Some of the changes that have occurred are permanent on human time scales."
The continental United States last year was the hottest in the 188-year record. Globally the first 12 years of the 21st century were among the 14 warmest ever.
Connecticut was four degrees warmer than the 20th century average. At current rates of CO2 emissions, scientists expect New England to have summers resembling the Deep South within decades.
The pine bark beetle, long held in check by winter freezes, is epidemic over millions of acres of forests from California to South Dakota.
Oceans, which absorb CO2, have increased in acidity, damaging coral reefs, shellfish, and organisms at the bottom of the food chain. Washington state shellfish growers have seen major failures in oyster hatcheries because the larvae don't form shells.
A National Research Council report this month said such changes in ocean chemistry in the geologic past were accompanied by "mass extinctions of ocean or terrestrial life or both."
A key question is when greenhouse gas emissions might reach a tipping point, where changes become self-reinforcing and out of human control.
Arctic sea ice reflects the sun. As it melts, the dark ocean absorbs more solar heat, raising temperatures. Similarly, the Greenland ice sheet is melting rapidly, reducing reflectivity, and possibly speeding up the melting of the West Antarctic ice sheet. The northern permafrost is thawing, with the potential to release methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and CO2 stored in soils. These can produce sudden, so-called non-linear changes that are hard to predict.
"We could be at a tipping point where the climate just abruptly warms," said Mark Z. Jacobsen, director of Stanford University's atmosphere/energy program. An Arctic melting "would make it more difficult for the Northern hemisphere to cool down, so all then Greenland would be next. Greenland stores about five to seven meters of sea level. The Antarctic in the Southern Hemisphere stores another 65 meters of sea level. That would take longer, but even that is starting to crack."
"We could be at a tipping point where the climate just abruptly warms," said Mark Z. Jacobsen, director of Stanford University's atmosphere/energy program.
A new ice core study in Nature, however, found that the Greenland ice sheet might be able to withstand temperatur e rises as high as eight degrees Celsius that existed in the Eemian period, when temperatures were warmer than now. But it also suggests that melting in Antarctica might have been higher.
UC Berkeley's Barnosky said tipping points could come earlier than anticipated when factoring in population growth and land use.
More than 40 percent of the earth's land surface has been covered by farms and cities. Much of the rest is cut by roads. By 2025, the percentage could reach half, a level that on smaller scales has led to ecological crashes.
"It's just sort of simple math: the more people, the more footprint," Barnosky said. "If we're still on a fossil fuel economy in 50 years, there is no hope for doing anything about climate change. It will be here in such a dramatic way that we won't recognize the planet we're on."
Not all climate scientists are so gloomy. Ashley Ballantyne, a bioclimatologist at the University of Montana who studies paleoclimate records, said t he climate has always changed, with ice ages, warmings and mass extinctions. He said at current CO2 concentrations, the Arctic and Greenland are likely to become ice free, as they were four million years ago.
Polar bears are poorly adapted to such conditions, he said, "but it wasn't bad for boreal trees. They were quite happy."
An international political consensus set as a danger zone two degrees of warming, expected in 25 years on current trends when atmospheric concentration of CO2 reaches 450 parts per million. It is now 400 parts per million.
Two degrees is "an arbitrary number," said Alan Robock, director of the Center for Environmental Prediction at Rutgers University. "On our current path we will go zooming way past that."
Climatologist James Hansen, head of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies and activist Bill McKibbon, founder of 350.org, believe the only way to preserve the climate humans are used to is to cut CO2 concentrations to 350 parts per million, last seen around 1988.
Ballantyne dismissed the 350 goal: "That's like a 70-year-old old alcoholic saying, 'I'm going quit drinking when I'm 60 years old.'"
McKibbon and Hansen propose a tax on fossil fuels at their source, to be reimbursed to all U.S. residents. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., plans to propose that in a "fee and dividend" scheme modeled on Alaska's oil royalty rebates to state residents.
Asked about the Sanders bill Wednesday, White House press secretary Jay Carney said, "We have not proposed and have no intention of proposing a carbon tax."
It would have to be a big tax, McKibbon said, "that drives up the price quickly. Maybe you go to the pump someday and you're paying what people in Europe pay for gasoline, which is good, because then it reminds you every time you go to the pump that you don't really need a semi- military vehicle to go to the grocery store."
Jacobson maintains that wind and solar could power the world many times over. He calculated that the world would need to install 1.7 billion solar rooftops and four million wind turbines.
Jane Long, chair of the California Council on Science and Technology, said any such conversion would be costly and difficult at best. Still, she said, "one way to get out of the hole is to stop digging."
Carolyn Lochhead is the San Francisco Chronicle's Washington correspondent. email@example.com

subset: commoncrawl


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IF THE first Sydney derby belonged to Sydney FC, who spoiled the party at Parramatta Stadium in October, it seemed only fitting that Western Sydney return the favour.
This was the night the ''Westies'' came and conquered the city. The Wanderers' two-goal margin could and should have been greater.
The Cove watched the latter stages in stunned, awkward silence. At the other end, in numbers Allianz Stadium has not seen before, the Red and Black Bloc provided the soundtrack for the 26,176 on hand. They would sing into the night, and there may be any number of sore heads today from Lidcombe to Leura. There certainly ought to be.
This win was also the fruits of hard work from Tony Popovic, having moulded the Wanderers into such a well-drilled battalion. It's hard to believe this club was just an idea six months ago.
''There's been a lot of milestones at this club, from the first pre-season game to the first game against Brisbane but this was sweet. This was special,'' Popovic said. ''I certainly enjoyed that.''
Nothing went right for Sydney FC and even Alessandro Del Piero, who came on with 20 minutes to play, was booked. Frank Farina - who reckoned his team was ''out-enthused'' - is only too aware of the task ahead. ''The disappointing thing is that we were outplayed tonight, pretty much on all fronts,'' he lamented. ''We've got work to do, to try and get that consistency.''
However, it was in the stands where the real story was told. If Saturday night is any indication, this derby will only get better each time. Divine intervention even put a rainbow over the stadium that connected both sets of supporters before kick-off but that was the lone friendly touch.
All bets were off between the fans. Yes, there were flares, but it only added to the spectacle of two rousing bands at either end. Football fans are active, not passive.
Full marks to the those who crossed town. Their touch of raising banners with western suburbs' postcodes was a cheeky pointer to places many Sydney FC fans have never visited. That's why this city needed a second team, and why the derby will become one of this city's great sporting events.
The world-class start off the field wasn't quite matched on it as both teams squandered possession and let their nerves dictate play.
The Wanderers found traction first and it was no surprise when they went ahead on 24 minutes. Shinji Ono's delivery found Jerome Polenz, who headed down for Youssouf Hersi. His pivot earned a precious gap and his finish was beyond Vedran Janjetovic.
Five minutes later, Ono's devilish turn left Terry Antonis standing and was followed by a gorgeous effort from distance - a looping shot that curled centimetres wide. The Japanese star is getting better by the week. If he can stay fit, something special awaits.
It's not unfair to say that both sides are shaping themselves in the image of their respective coaches. Popovic, a decade-long anchor of the Socceroos' defence, has his side tightly compressed, especially at the back. Farina, equally famous for his national exploits in attack, wants the Sky Blues to mirror his own forward-thinking style.
But as half-time arrived, Sydney FC were chasing the game at home. They could only pray that Del Piero could make the difference. He couldn't.
Instead, it was ex-Sydney defender Michael Beauchamp who clinched the game when he arrived in the right place at the right time. He hugged Nikolai Topor-Stanley like a long-lost relative at the final whistle. At long last, Sydney would be painted red and black.


text:
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I've been doing current events at my son's school.
I approached my son's teacher a few weeks ago, and proposed a weekly, half-hour current events discussion for the grade 3 / 4 class. My son's teacher is very cool, and progressive and totally supported the idea. He also helped to provide structure for my amateur (I'm a journalist, not a teacher) efforts.
I've gone in twice now, and the kids do seem to enjoy it.
It occurred to me that what I'm doing with the class can easily be done by parents (and educators) with their own kids.
The Current Events class
The first class was a review of the news from the past few days. I wanted to tell the kids about some of the major news stories that were unfolding – like the oil spill and the G20 summit that's coming to our city this summer. And then I just picked out a bunch of interesting stories that I thought kids could relate to.
I held up each newspaper article, read the headline and then explained what the article was about. I also gave a bit of information about the various newspapers available in Canada and what they were all about. I talked to them about "how" to read a newspaper – for instance, you don't have to read every word of an article – and how to understand headlines even though they're often written in a very truncated way.
We talked about the G20 summit – what it is and the various ways in which it would impact the city. And the oil spill, and what BP was trying to do to stop it (including shoving golf balls into the pipe! We had a show of hands as to how many kids thought that would work.)
And then we reviewed a handful of other stories including the discovery of some new species in New Guinea, the fact that our city is missing millions of dollars in unpaid speeding ticket fines, and Robert Munsch's revelation of his alcohol addiction (we were careful to present that in a positive light—how he had overcome adversity).
The children were very interested in the news and how it affects them. For many of them, it was an introduction to parts of the newspaper that didn't have comics or Sudoku.
And then the teacher did something really, really smart. He took a vote on which stories the kids wanted me to follow up on the next week. That way, we could see what the kids were interested in and hone the presentation to be of the most interest.
The kids picked the G20, the oil spill and the species, which I thought was an incredibly mature list—this is some heavy stuff.
Week 2
The second week I followed up on the G20: the $1B security tab for the summit, and the many tourist attractions (including the CN Tower) that will be shut down during the talks. And I was also able to report that the golf-ball idea is going ahead – and that one of the back-up plans is to use human hair to clog the spill. Seriously. (No one in the class thinks that will work, either. Maybe BP should call us.)
And we added in a few new stories that were interesting that week: the boy in Alberta who was refused the right to wear a kilt to his graduation (his principal has since changed his mind); the million works of art that are currently in the hands of the Toronto District School Board and which may be loaned out to schools; and the fact that vending machines in our city's recreation centres will be going healthy (the class cheered).
Reading the news is a fantastic literacy exercise. Kids are keen to know what's going on around them, but newspapers can be daunting. Headlines are hard to read and articles generally require a lot of general and historic knowledge in order to understand them. But once an adult puts things in context, kids just jump right in.
And that's a gigantic step towards getting kids reading.
Sorry I haven't been blogging as much as usual – but you can see how busy I've been. Add our school's FunFest and other activities to the mix, on top of my "money-making" job and it hasn't left much time for blogging. But I hope to be back on the horse again soon.


text:
Iowa man hospitalized after rock picker accident
HAZLETON, Iowa (AP) — The Buchanan County sheriff's office says a Vinton man was injured after getting trapped in farm equipment near Hazleton.
The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports Randy Blake was operating a rock picker in a field Thursday when a rock got stuck, causing the machine to jam.
Blake managed to dislodge the rock, but the machine suddenly began working and he became trapped between the reel and the inside of the hopper.
Blake managed to wave his arms and get the attention of others workers.
Crews from Hazleton and Oelwein managed to get Blake out of the picker. He was taken to a hospital in Oelwein and then flown to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.
He was listed in stable condition.


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Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel admits to frustrations at Anfield
Martin Skrtel insists he is more than happy with Liverpool, but admits his current situation is not 'ideal'.
By Vasek Kadlec
Last Updated: 25/02/13 1:05pm
For the first time in his Anfield career, the Slovak has found himself relegated to the bench under Brendan Rodgers in recent weeks.
Skrtel is currently sidelined with a thigh injury, but he does not appear confident of regaining his place.
"I have to wait, what else can I do?" he told Denik Sport.
"When I was healthy, I was training with the team, giving 100 per cent and doing all I could to prove to the coach that I belonged in the starting XI. I was waiting for a chance, one then came in St Petersburg, but then I was not playing again. However, now I'm injured and we'll see what happens when I'm back fit.
"It's hard to tell, but I would say it wouldn't (change). The coach has his ideas about the line-up and the question is if I would be in it if I was fit. I would say it's likelier I wouldn't. The most important thing for me is to recover as soon as possible and resume training."
Despite signing a new long-term deal late last year, Skrtel has been linked with a move, including possibly back to Russia with former club Zenit St Petersburg and Anzhi Makhachkala reported as admirers.
"It would be useless to think about a transfer during the season even if it is true that you can move to Russia till the end of February," he said.
"I have come across such views that it would not be correct to consider leaving a club where you have been on the bench in four or five fixtures. On the other hand, it is hard to put up with it. For three years at Liverpool I was playing in almost every match and even in the national team I have played a lot of games. I have had various thoughts but certainly I'm not going to make any hot-blooded decision.
"I repeat this - I want to be fit as soon as possible and fight for the place in the starting line-up.
"If the coach should lose interest in keeping me in his team, then we would have to handle it with my agent. For the present it is valid that I am at Liverpool where I have a long-term contract and I am not thinking about leaving."
Skrtel's issues with Rodgers first came to light after their defeat to Manchester United earlier this season.
"It all happened after our match with Manchester United in the middle of January. Before that match we had won twice 3-0 in the league - at QPR and at home we beat Sunderland," he said.
"In Manchester we lost 2-1 but I think that particularly in the second half we played very well. Moreover, a lot of sources gave me a good rating. But he [Rodgers] told me we had lost the organisation of play in the defensive line and that this would be the reason why I would not play in the following matches.
"I don't know which fixtures he spoke about because we had kept a clean sheet twice in a row and won both matches. Also, we did not disappoint in the game against United.
"He [Rodgers] selects the line-up and picks players who will be on the pitch. At the moment I'm not among the first 11. It makes me sad but the coach has decided like this and I have to respect it."
Asked if Rodgers and he had talked about his axing from the side, he said: "Yes, we have but it is not ideal. He told me something on this, gave me some explanation, but it's hard to tell if it was the true reason he gave me.
"I don't think it was and think there is something else behind it.
"Anyway, I'm not the type of player who would be chasing the coach and be in his office all the time, asking for explanations why I'm not playing. I have never done this, I'm not doing it now and I never will be. If the coach wants to tell me something, he will summon me.
"I would not like to make any unnecessary conflicts because the thing that is above all is success for Liverpool as a club and I will support them even if I'm on the bench or in the stands."


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October 20, 2008
Monday Illustrations
A slightly random sampling for a Monday morning:
- Same actor, different role: clever, and kind of self-explanatory once clicked.
- Who needs to wait for a bank collapse when you've got this ATM mugger? (Lose money the old fashioned way, I say.)
- Folicular stylings (perfect for our XD group):
- Desktop facial hair contest
- I {Heart} 'Stache
- Related/previous: this offbeat Beard font.
- Tutorials & resources:
- Veerle offers guidance on drawing Apple's cloverleaf "Command" shape in Illustrator (or, if you prefer, call it a Swedish campground symbol).
- 40 Dark and Futuristic Photoshop Effects [Via]
- 40 Sets of Abstract Glow Brushes
- Dilbert creator Scott Adams is all over Photoshop + Wacom Cintiq. [Via many people]


text:
Product Description
45.5 mm by 31.5 mm
A fat teardrop or pear shaped semi precious gemstone Petrified Palm Wood from Indonesia designer cabochon 45.5 mm by 31.5 mm by 5 mm thick.
Beautiful and rare semi precious gemstone Petrified Palm Wood or Palmoxylon from Indonesia.
This is actually a psuedomorph-chalcedony gemstone replacing the wood. Therefore Petrified Palm Wood is actually a member of the chalcedony family with a hardness of 6.5 to 7. The designer cabochons have beautiful polka dot patterns. The largest single deposit of Petrified Wood is in Indonesia.
Metaphysical Properties: Petrified Wood is called the stone of patience.
Cabochons are stones cut for jewelry and are measured in mm. One inch is equal to about 25 mm.
Shipping terms: Cabochons are shipped First Class within the U.S. for FREE. You can upgrade to Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box for $5.00.
We offer First Class International shipping for $5.00. First Class usually takes from 2 weeks up to 8 weeks internationally and it is NOT tracked. You can choose to upgrade to Priority Mail for $20.00 to Canada or $22.00 anywhere else.


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Gang Threat on the Border
Our role combating street gangs and the Mexican drug cartels that control them.
A Barrio Azteca gang member's tattoos.
On the Southwest Border
Understanding the Gang Threat
Mexican drug cartels run the billion-dollar trafficking operations that bring so much crime and violence to both sides of the Southwest border. But it's street gangs that carry out the cartels' dirty work of smuggling, extortion, and murder. Understanding the gangs—their structure, culture, and tactics—is the job of agents who specialize in collecting human intelligence, or HUMINT.
In our El Paso Field Office, the HUMINT squad pays particular attention to Barrio Azteca, the city's predominant gang whose leaders regularly do business from prison—even authorizing contract killings.
"The focus of the HUMINT squad is not to worry about making individual cases," said Special Agent Armando Ramos, a senior investigator on the team. "Our job is to see the big picture—whether it's Barrio Azteca or any other gang—so we can effectively target these groups and the larger drug trafficking organizations they associate with."
Intelligence gathering is critical to seeing that big picture. And Agent Ramos, working closely with officers from the El Paso Police Department and the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, collect intelligence in a variety of ways. They get tips from police officers on the street, recruit sources from the ranks of disgruntled gang members, and make contact with recently arrested gang members who may be looking for a more lenient sentence in exchange for their cooperation.
"Whatever intelligence we gain, we pass on to our Safe Streets Task Force and to other law enforcement agencies," Agent Ramos said. "We get the information out quickly to where it can do the most good."
The actionable intelligence collected by the HUMINT squad could lead to arrests, drug seizures, or the prevention of crimes such as kidnapping or murder. There are dozens of different gangs operating along the Southwest border—some of them cooperate and some are bitter rivals—but the one thing they all share in common is violence.
Barrio Azteca—known as BA—is an extremely violent gang, with as many as 3,500 members on the street and in jail, both in El Paso and across the Rio Grande in Juarez, Mexico. Even though the Bureau put together a major racketeering case against the gang several years ago that effectively dismantled its leadership, the group has reorganized, and younger members—dubbed the "Pepsi Generation"—have been promoted to top positions.
Agent Ramos has been on the HUMINT squad for about three years and has an intimate knowledge of BA culture and its leaders. "The players are always changing, and so are their tactics," he said. "That's why HUMINT is so valuable, because we are able to keep pace with gang activities and be proactive in our response."
But the job requires constant vigilance, he explained, because of how integral crime and violence are to the gang's culture. BA's constitution—its "sacred bible"—lists dozens of rules members must follow. Rule Number Two is, "Always dominate your opponent." Rule Number One: "Once you get in, you can't get out."
"After you become a member," Agent Ramos said, "there are only two ways to get out of BA—get killed or get arrested. With that kind of mindset, you can see why the work of the HUMINT squad is so important."
Next: The Importance of Intelligence


text:
What do I do with robots.txt or Meta tags?
Once you have created your robots.txt file, you should upload it to the root (top-level) directory of your Web server.
When you have identified and created the necessary Meta tags, you should paste them in the "head" section of your Web page's HTML.
For more information about robots.txt and Meta tags, see What's the difference between robots.txt and Meta Tags?


text:
Enclosed by the forests and valleys of the Taunus hills in Hessen, this 60-hectare site is the perfect day trip destination for the whole family.
With the country estate, farmworker's house, tavern, stables and more, Hessenpark open-air museum brings 400 years of history to life. It provides a fascinating portrayal of the rich diversity of architecture, and of the work of craftsmen, housewives and farmers. There's always something going on at Hessenpark, with a varied year-round programme of tours, demonstrations and workshops.
Opening times:
March to October: 9 am to 6 pm daily
November to February: Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm
Dvě užitečné klávesové zkratky k používání lupy v okně prohlížeče:
Zvětšit: +
Zmenšit: +
Další nápovědu si můžete zobrazit v prohlížeči kliknutím na ikonu:


text: Looking at ancient bird fossils is an opportunity to see what birding might have been like millions of years ago. Back then, many birds had enormous teeth, long snouts and long, bony tails. "The birds that lived during the age of the dinosaurs were very different from the birds that live today," said Los Angeles County Natural History Museum curator and dino-bird expert Luis Chiappe. "And it would have been a completely different experience to go out birding in the Mesozoic Era." During the Mesozoic, from 250 to 65 million years ago, the planet also looked and felt very different. Earth was much warmer, and the ice caps didn't exist. The continents were only beginning to split into their modern configurations. Sea levels were higher, and large dinosaurs ruled the land. Primitive birds emerged at this time and became prey for non-avian dinosaurs, which were usually much bigger. We've compiled a quick guide to birding in China's primitive forest-filled aviary, which thrived about 125 to 120 million years ago. We've tried to give a sense of how big these ancient birds were by comparing them to modern birds. The comparisons are based on the size of the femur, or thigh muscle. Jeholornis (above) Jeholornis is the most primitive bird in this guide. It had very tiny teeth, short clawed wings and a very long, bony tail. "In that sense, it still retains the long, bony tails of the dinosaurs," Chiappe said. It had feet capable of clasping branches, which suggests it might have lived or have spent a good amount of time perching in trees, Chiappe says. It didn't have a hard, ossified breast bone, which suggests it probably wasn't very good at flying. "They could have fluttered from one tree to another," Chiappe said. But these turkey-vulture-sized birds probably weren't long-range flyers. Image: Luis Chiappe/Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.Sapeornis Sapeornis was a rather large bird, probably around the size of a turkey vulture. It had very long, broad wings and spade-shaped teeth on its upper jaw only, Chiappe says. Some scientists think Sapeornis was probably a seed-and-grain feeder because it had stomach stones, structures that help digest these foods. Like Jeholornis, it had a very powerful grasping foot, so it may have lived in trees. Image: Luis Chiappe/Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.Confuciusornis Confuciusornis were a diverse group of beaked birds with very long wings and very long feathers. Some had two ornamental feathers that could be as long as the animal's body (as pictured above). These crow-sized ancient birds also had very powerful claws. Some researchers think they could have used them to climb trees, but Chiappe isn't convinced. "It's hard to imagine they had independent mobility," he said. "You can't really be grasping something when your hands are filled with long, stiff feathers. They're just not going to move in the same way." Researchers have found hundreds of well-preserved Confuciusornis fossils in what might have been ancient lakes. But there's no evidence, like webbed feet for example, that these animals could swim, Chiappe says. "These were flyers," he said. They had very large breast bones, indicating they probably had very large breasts and flight muscles. They also had well-developed upper limbs, which good modern flyers have. Many Confuciusornis specimens, like the ones above, contain multiple birds, suggesting they probably died in some catastrophic event, like a volcanic eruption, Chiappe says. For this reason, Confuciusornis fossils are very abundant. "That's why we're able to do studies with samples comparable in size to what modern ornithologists would use for their own studies," he said. Images: 1) Three Confuciusornis specimens. 2) Fossils of Confuciusornis birds. Luis Chiappe/Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.Changchengornis Changchengornis had a short, hooked beak, a forked tail, elaborate plumage and four claws on its feet. It didn't have a strong perching foot. The kestrel-sized creature was smaller than its close relative, Confuciusornis. It didn't have any teeth, and it probably ate insects rather than hard seeds that required cracking, Chiappe says. Image: Luis Chiappe/Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.Longipteryx The starling-sized Longipteryx had long wings, large powerful claws, and a long snout. "But it didn't have a beak because it had big teeth!" Chiappe said. These animals probably ate fish. Their massive teeth, which were restricted to the tip of the snout, may have helped them capture slippery prey, he says. Longipteryx didn't have a keeled breast bone, like many good flyers do. But because it was small and had long wings, it was probably a decent enough flyer, he says. Image: Luis Chiappe/Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.Rapaxavis "Rapaxavis was a very little guy," Chiappe said. "It was very lightly built, and it had a long, slender snout with tiny little teeth." Unlike some of its contemporaries, it didn't have any claws on its "hands," but it did have four on its feet, which it used to perch. The sandpiper-sized creature probably used its long, thin snout to forage for crustaceans, maggots and larvae. Yum. Image: Luis Chiappe/Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.Pengornis Pengornis was around the size of a pigeon and had massive, dull teeth that "looked like onions or the domes of a Russian church," Chiappe said. These teeth would not have been good for puncturing, but would have been great for cracking the shells of seeds, snails or crabs. Image: Luis Chiappe/Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.Hongshanornis Hongshanornis was a tiny bird with long legs and long toes. Like Rapaxavis, it was about as big as a sandpiper. "It was a wader," Chiappe said. It probably lived close to water and ate invertebrates that lived on the lakeshore. It had a strong beak with teeth so tiny some scientists argue it was probably toothless. If it did have teeth, they were probably not very good ones, Chiappe says. These birds also had long wings and a very long-feathered tail. Image: Luis Chiappe/Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.Eoenantiornis Eoenantiornis was probably a perching bird. It had a rounded tail, a short snout and very sharp teeth that were probably good for chomping on bugs. It was about the size of an oriole. Image: Luis Chiappe/Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.Longirostravis Longirostravis was a very slender, delicate bird, like Rapaxavis, Chiappe says. It had tiny peg-like teeth at the end of its snout. And like Rapaxavis, it may have also poked through mud to find food. Image: Luis Chiappe/Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.Zhongornis "Zhongornis was a very interesting little guy," Chiappe said. "It's the intermediate between long-tailed and short-tailed birds." The sparrow-size Zhongornis had fairly long "fingers" with claws, a short snout, a short tail and it may have been toothless, he says. Image: Luis Chiappe/Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.Yanornis Yanornis was one of the most anatomically modern paleo-birds, Chiappe says. The pigeon-size bird had teeth, a long snout, a fanned tail, long wings, and a keeled breastbone that supported strong flight muscles. Fossils of this ancient bird typically have stomach stones, which help animals to digest plants, leaves, grains or seeds. Many modern herbivores have them, so it's likely Yanornis fed on grains, Chiappe says. Paleontologists have also found specimens with fish remains in their gut, suggesting "they ate fish," he said. "I would imagine they probably lived close to the lakeshore." Image: Luis Chiappe/Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.


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Money was tight, what with a baby boy in the house and another one on the way, so Teri Curtis cut costs. The 22-year-old bartender in Bentonville, Arkansas, saved on gas by making fewer trips to see her mother, who lived about an hour away. She and her husband stopped eating dinner out. And for lunch, she almost invariably had a plain tuna sandwich. "It was a cheap meal," she remembers. "And I thought it would be nutritious."
Curtis's second son, Ryker, was born in June 2005, three weeks early. The doctors helicoptered him to a bigger hospital, where he was put in an incubator. The IV the nurses hooked up to his arm kept popping out every time he wriggled, so they inserted one through his scalp. Curtis was able to hold him for only a few hours a day. "On a scale of 1 to 10, I would say I was terrified at an 11," Curtis says. "That poor kid." It was a month before Curtis was able to take him home.
There were new problems, though. At 8 months, Ryker wasn't responding to his name. And he didn't look at Curtis when she talked to him.
It turned out that Ryker was nearly deaf. His adenoids, clusters of tissue toward the top of the throat, were swollen to the size of an adult's, clogging up his hearing passageways. What the heck was going on with her child? Curtis wondered. She sat down with her ob/gyn, who ticked off some possible explanations. They could be seeing the health effects of Ryker's prematurity. Or perhaps it was genetic.
But Curtis had heard something on the news that troubled her. Might mercury be a cause? "It's unlikely, and we'll never know for sure," the doctor told Curtis. "But that might be it." The toxin is found in certain varieties of seafood — including tuna, which Curtis had eaten at least three times a week for virtually her entire pregnancy. When a pregnant woman consumes mercury, it passes through the placenta into the brain of the fetus, where it can linger for years.
In extreme amounts, more than 10 micrograms per gram as measured in hair (which scientists use to gauge the body's mercury levels), mercury can cause mental retardation, cerebral palsy, deafness and blindness. In the lower-level amounts typically found in Americans — fewer than 2 micrograms per gram in hair — risks to a newborn include a drop of a few IQ points, slow brain development and learning disabilities. Researchers at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimate that more than 300,000 babies born each year in this country are at risk of having brain damage due to mercury exposure in utero.
Women may also have to worry for their own health: A 2003 study by San Francisco internist Jane Hightower, M.D., published in the journal "Environmental Health Perspectives," found that 89 percent of her female patients had mercury levels above what most scientists consider safe, and that high mercury levels in adults correlated with memory loss, fatigue and muscle aches. Another preliminary study this year found that mothers who delivered prematurely were more likely to have high mercury levels.
Even a suggestion, however remote, that her diet had played a role in Ryker's illnesses left Curtis devastated. "I felt like everything my son was going through was my fault," she says. But although she blamed herself, she couldn't help but wonder why there were no warnings on the cans of tuna she ate. She hadn't heard anything from the government about limiting tuna during pregnancy, nor did she recall her ob/gyn telling her that tuna might have mercury pollution. "This was something that should never have happened," Curtis says. "I worry that it could have been prevented."
Pollution in our seafood
Every day in this country, coal-fired power plants in 46 states spew out particles laced with mercury. Incinerators and chlorine plants burn off still more. The emissions travel on the wind — sometimes hundreds of miles — then fall back to Earth, usually in rain or snow, and land most often in our rivers, lakes and oceans. Though there are natural sources of mercury in the air, such as forest fires, a 2002 study published in "Environmental Science & Technology" estimated that 70 percent of the mercury in our atmosphere was put there by humans.
As it turns out, bacteria in marine soil and sediment like to dine on mercury, which they convert to a toxic form called methylmercury. The bacteria are absorbed by plankton, which fish dine on. Little fish are light eaters, so they don't consume enough mercury through plankton to become dangerous. But eventually, big fish eat the small fish, and it's these predators that have the most mercury in their flesh. According to government data, top-of-the-food-chain fish such as shark, swordfish, tilefish and king mackerel contain 0.7 to 1.4 mcg per gram of mercury — anywhere from 8 to 100 times as much as seafood like cod, herring, clams, salmon and scallops.
And then there's tuna. It has become a focus of mercury worries because we eat so much of it: Canned tuna is the most popular fish in the United States and the second most popular seafood after shrimp, generating close to $1.5 billion in sales annually. That means, as Dr. Hightower notes, "the issue of mercury in fish involves not only the health of the consumer, but the health of the economy."
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As a large predator fish, tuna contains mercury — and sometimes lots of it. Government data shows that the freshly caught bigeye and ahi tuna used for steaks and sushi has levels around 0.6 mcg per gram, and albacore used to make "white" canned tuna has moderately high levels of about 0.35 mcg per gram. Light canned tuna has long been thought to have low mercury because it's mostly made from skipjack, a smaller species. But independent laboratory testing of light canned tuna has produced wildly varying levels of mercury even among cans bought in the same store — with some light canned tuna testing higher than tuna steaks.
The task of protecting Americans from mercury in commercially sold fish falls to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In its most recent advice to consumers, the FDA recommends that women of childbearing age consume up to 12 ounces — two servings — of fish or shellfish per week. It also says these women should not eat more than 6 ounces of albacore tuna per week. The FDA's assistant commissioner for food safety, David Acheson, M.D., insists the agency has done a good job warning women about the dangers without frightening them. After all, tuna and many other types of fish are rich in vitamin B and omega-3 fatty acids that prevent heart disease. Eating fish can lower the risk for stroke, depression and mental decline. There are species, including salmon, sole, trout and flounder, that are both high in omega-3s and low in mercury. But Dr. Acheson says that if the FDA issued too dire a warning about tuna, women might turn away from fish altogether and toward fattier, less healthy sources of protein such as red meat.
The tuna industry takes the same position. "We strongly encourage women to follow the advice of the FDA: to eat seafood, including canned tuna, twice per week. They have brought in health professionals from around the nation in a very open and transparent process," says John Connelly, president of the National Fisheries Institute in McLean, Virginia. This year, the NFI merged with the U.S. Tuna Foundation, a trade group representing the three largest brands of canned tuna. "Large, peer-reviewed, published studies (have found) that without question the best thing young women and families can do is get more seafood into their diet," Connelly adds.
But has women's health truly come first in the government's handling of the mercury issue? For the past decade, numerous scientists have accused the FDA of ignoring their advice and watering down its rules to suit the wishes of Big Tuna: the fisheries that catch and process tuna and the companies that sell it. "It's been complete and utter foot dragging by the FDA," says Deborah Rice, Ph.D., a former senior toxicologist at the EPA now working for the state of Maine. At the same time, Big Tuna — and the electrical-power industry that generates mercury emissions in the first place — have put money into scientific studies that found low threats from mercury and have used that research to argue against tighter rules. Leonardo Trasande, M.D., an expert on environmental toxins at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, says the result of the country's lax methylmercury regulations will be felt for decades to come: "Mercury is going to poison an entire generation of our nation's children."
Who paid for that mercury study?
The debate started in 1995. Researchers at the University of Rochester School of Medicine in upstate New York reported that they had studied 131 pregnant Peruvian women, who ate fish frequently and had high mercury levels, and found no harm to their babies. As with most studies, you had to read the fine print to see who funded it: the federal government's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), but also Big Tuna: the National Fisheries Institute and the Tuna Research Foundation.
In 1997, another group of scientists reported that mercury in fish was likely nothing to worry about. They took hair samples from American women and tested for traces of mercury. The results, according to the study, did "not justify concern ... of adverse health effects in these women or in their children." The same industry groups had teamed with NOAA to fund the research, joined this time by the U.S. Tuna Foundation.
But the most reassuring mercury news that year came from an international team including different scientists from the University of Rochester. They had been working in the Seychelles islands off the east coast of Africa, where diets consist mainly of fish. At the time the women studied gave birth, they had about 6 mcg per gram of mercury in their hair — an alarmingly high level. But at a year and a half, the women's babies showed no ill effects.
The work in the Seychelles was funded by the governments of the United States and the Seychelles, not private industry. Big Tuna and the power industry chipped in the following year, giving some of the Seychelles researchers grants of half a million dollars to evaluate methods of testing children for cognitive defects resulting from environmental toxins, including mercury. In addition to money from an FDA program, the project attracted $5,000 from the fisheries institute, $10,000 from the U.S. Tuna Foundation and $486,000 from the Electric Power Research Institute in Palo Alto, California, a research group funded by electric power–plant companies. (Officials with the EPRI did not return calls for comment.)
There is no evidence that the scientists involved in these studies did anything improper. Their work appeared in peer-reviewed scientific journals and no one has suggested it's invalid. "There's been no industry influence on any of the work we've done. We report what we find," says Gary Myers, M.D., professor of neurology, pediatrics and environmental medicine at the University of Rochester. "All of our research in Seychelles has the strict scrutiny and oversight of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. NIEHS is intimately aware of our funding and has never questioned the integrity of our findings or suggested any conflict of interest."
Yet the fact remains, as Dr. Hightower puts it, that in contrast to studies connected to industry, "most independent studies have found that mercury has harmful health effects." A 2007 British study published in "The Lancet" was the exception, suggesting that eating seafood while pregnant had a net health benefit for children. But other independent studies in the United States, New Zealand and the Faroe Islands near Iceland have all shown danger to children due to mercury in seafood. The Faroes study, which also appeared in 1997 and was led by Philippe Grandjean, M.D., professor of environmental health at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, showed that children born to mothers with elevated mercury levels were slow to develop motor and speech skills. "Over an entire population, it can be significant," Dr. Grandjean says. "You will have fewer kids who are really bright and will have pushed a few (down so far) they can't compete in high school."
By 2000, the federal government had begun to consider how much mercury consumers could safely eat and which fish were most dangerous. The EPA had for years used a low threshold, saying a person could safely ingest 0.1 mcg of mercury per day per kilogram of body weight. For a 132 pound woman, that would mean about 6 mcg a day of mercury — less than is found in one third of a can of light tuna.
The National Research Council in Washington, D.C., one of the nation's premier scientific bodies, convened a panel of experts to look at the EPA standard in light of the latest research, including the Faroes and Seychelles studies. The independent Faroes research, the panel members wrote in their final report, "should be used as the critical study," supporting the EPA standard.
But the EPA has jurisdiction only over fish that recreational fishermen catch in the nation's interior lakes, ponds and rivers. Tuna, which commercial haulers gather on the open sea, falls under the purview of the FDA. And that agency had set a standard five times as high as the one the NRC experts were recommending. Giving equal weight to the Faroes and Seychelles research, the agency issued an advisory in 2001 warning pregnant women against eating king mackerel, shark, swordfish and tilefish. Nowhere did it mention tuna, which accounted for one third of the seafood market.
After the decision, the Environmental Working Group, an activist organization in Washington, D.C., petitioned the FDA to release transcripts from focus groups it had held in fall 2000 on mercury. Those papers show FDA senior scientist Alan Levy, M.D., stating that the standard was "not protective enough" of fetuses, and later suggesting that "it is prudent, particularly for pregnant women, to … moderate their tuna fish consumption." A draft advisory reportedly did recommend pregnant women eat less tuna. But when the agency released its mercury warning a few months later, all references to tuna had been deleted.
Mercury experts ignored
One spring day a year later, toxicologist Vas Aposhian, Ph.D., did something rare for him: He went food shopping. Aposhian, a professor of molecular and cellular biology at the University of Arizona in Tucson, prefers being in his lab and is content to let his wife do the shopping. But this time he went with her; she pointed him toward what he was looking for. He threw 11 cans of tuna into his shopping cart and the next day mailed them off to a laboratory to be analyzed.
Shortly after, Aposhian flew to Washington, D.C. By this point, the FDA was under intense pressure to reconsider its mercury policies. The public was understandably confused by there being one mercury standard from the EPA and another from the FDA. Meanwhile, many states had drafted their own mercury advisories, some of which were considerably stricter than the FDA's. The FDA asked its Food Advisory Committee to study the issue further. Aposhian was one of 21 members given this assignment, along with government officials, business leaders, consumer activists and other researchers from around the country.
The committee met in July 2002. About halfway through the deliberations, Aposhian revealed the results of his lab tests: One of the 11 cans he purchased contained 1.24 mcg per gram of mercury, an unsafe level even by FDA rules. It wasn't a scientific study, but it was all it took to convince Aposhian that young women and their children faced a significant health threat. "I think something has to be done about protecting pregnant women," he told his fellow committee members.
Other members agreed and urged the FDA to include tuna in its mercury advisory. The committee members' recommendations were quite specific: They wanted the agency to follow the advisory adopted by the state of Wisconsin — one of the strictest in the nation. That state told women to eat no more than one 6-ounce can of light tuna per week.
Almost two years passed before the FDA updated its advisory. In the intervening time, Big Tuna stepped up its lobbying to new heights, according to data from The Center for Responsive Politics, a group in Washington, D.C., that tracks industry expenditures on lobbying activities such as meetings and meals with lawmakers and regulators. Organizations representing tuna sellers, processors and fishermen spent at least $540,000 lobbying the House, Senate and FDA on mercury and other issues. "There was tremendous regulatory activity during that period, so you would expect to see a spike in contacts between the industry and government," says Anne Forristall Luke, who was president of the U.S. Tuna Foundation at the time. She adds that the process of crafting the FDA advisory was fully transparent. "The FDA had meetings with industry people, environmental organizations and consumer advocates. There's nothing nefarious about this kind of lobbying, and the tuna industry advocates for positions it believes are true."
The Seychelles researchers also joined the debate. The power industry helped underwrite a speech by University of Rochester researcher Philip Davidson, Ph.D., to a July 2003 conference co-hosted by the American Association on Mental Retardation. In his talk, Davidson stressed how little was known about mercury's health effects. Days later, his colleague Dr. Myers testified before Congress and was less ambiguous, telling lawmakers that "we do not believe that there is presently good scientific evidence that moderate fish consumption is harmful to the fetus."
The FDA and EPA issued their new joint statement on mercury and fish in March 2004 — and at last tuna was included on the list of fish women should be concerned about. But the agency rejected one of the major recommendations of its own committee: The new mercury guidelines were not modeled on Wisconsin's. In fact, they were much more lenient. Wisconsin had put the maximum amount of light tuna women should eat at one can per week; the FDA put it at two cans. "It was clear we wanted the Wisconsin numbers followed," laments consumer advocate Jean Halloran, a member of the committee. "The only way to explain what happened is that the FDA cared most about how an advisory would affect the profits of the fish industry."
Dr. Acheson says the FDA advisory is based on the best available science, showing that tuna can have both positive and negative health effects. "Not everyone agrees with the tack that we've taken, but our role is not to get everyone to pat us on the back. It's to protect public health," he says. As for Aposhian, he resigned from the committee in protest the day the FDA issued its decision. "I was shocked the FDA did not follow the Wisconsin advisory," he says. "It has put the normal development of American children in jeopardy."
Consumers in confusion
The news about mercury keeps coming, with each contradictory finding seeming to further cloud the picture. Recent research on men in Finland found that mercury in fish increased their risk for heart disease, potentially counteracting the benefits hearts get from omega-3s. Dr. Grandjean, who led the Faroe Islands study, argues that although low-mercury fish is definitely a health food, the evidence linking mercury to heart disease is now strong enough that no one — man, woman or child — should eat fish with elevated mercury levels.
Meanwhile, the tuna industry launched an aggressive marketing campaign aimed at countering the Faroe Islands research. Restaurants and food companies have funded MercuryFacts.org, FishScam.com and magazine ads, all blasting the study as invalid because the residents there get their mercury from whale meat, rather than fish. "Unless you're lunching on a Moby Dick sandwich, there's no reason to worry," one advertisement says. Dr. Grandjean says that "mercury is mercury is mercury. It doesn't matter if it comes from whale or tuna." His view is backed by the members of the original 2000 NRC panel, who recently went back and reexamined whether new Seychelles research supplants the Faroes findings. They found it does not.
In May 2006, the seafood industry scored a major victory in court that stopped then California Attorney General Bill Lockyer from requiring tuna companies to warn consumers about man-made toxins in their food, as with labels on cans. Deputy Attorney General Susan S. Fiering called the decision "devastating" to the health of poor women in particular. Testifying against the warnings was Louis Sullivan, M.D., who served as the U.S. Health and Human Services secretary in the early 1990s; Dr. Sullivan, who did not return calls for comment, worked in 2005 and 2006 as a paid consultant to Big Tuna.
The San Francisco judge who ruled against consumer warnings relied heavily on the testimony of François Morel, Ph.D., professor of geosciences at Princeton University in New Jersey, whose findings indicate that very little of the mercury in tuna comes from man-made sources. The state countered in its appeal that Morel's claims are "not shared by any other scientists in the field." Morel's research had been aided by — surprise — the U.S. Tuna Foundation. He says that since 2003, he has also accepted roughly $150,000 a year in grants from the Electric Power Research Institute. The power industry has funded almost all of the research into the chemistry of mercury, he adds. "I've yet to see any problems. People are honest and EPRI realizes it would damage itself by trying to skew the results."
Last October, the Institute of Medicine in Washington, D.C., released a report that Big Tuna declared the best take yet on the issue: Its verdict was that the benefits of eating fish generally outweighed the risks. "Seafood is a good source of high-quality protein, is low in saturated fat and is rich in many micronutrients," the panel wrote, whereas "the available evidence to assess risks to the U.S. population (from mercury and other pollutants) is incomplete."
David Bellinger, Ph.D., professor of neurology at the Harvard School of Public Health, was a member of the Institute of Medicine panel. He was also a co-author of a large 2005 Harvard study funded by Big Tuna, including grants from the National Food Processors Association Research Foundation and the Fisheries Scholarship Fund. Bellinger says industry had no influence on his research, which upheld the idea that if pregnant women follow the FDA advisory, their children will have a net health benefit. But would it be better if the Institute of Medicine were able to base its decisions on studies that weren't funded by industry groups? "In an ideal world?" he replies. "Yes."
In our imperfect world, the influence of industry-funded research, industry-financed politicians and industry lobbyists makes it difficult for physicians and the consumer to know just whom to trust, says Dr. Hightower, who has treated nearly 100 women for mercury poisoning. "Money tends to add to the confusion when it comes to regulation," she says. "The public health message is one of compromise for all parties. The doctor's office should be where the best message is given to patients, regardless of any variable other than health."
The message she gives patients: Use common sense. Fish such as salmon and flounder, grass-fed beef and fortified products are all good sources of healthy fats. "You can get omega-3 fatty acids without significantly increasing your mercury level and at the same time have a very healthful diet," she says. "Poison is not a good thing to eat."
Additional reporting by Kathy Maloney.
Copyright © 2012 CondéNet. All rights reserved.


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Introducing THE GAME CHALLENGE from IFCC! Sponsored by 3dtotal. ENDS: 9 March 2015
THE IFCC GAME CHALLENGE! Sponsored by 3dtotal
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�The Game� is the name of the game. Like � �Dog�, the dog. But why such name? Because it is supposed to be the game of all games, where all known visual styles and types of gameplay meet, and where rules are made to be broken. The purpose of this challenge is to start creating a library of visual content for �The Game� project, such as characters, vehicles and environments. We are also currently looking for the project�s logo and some elements of visual identity. This will be used on print ads, promo materials etc. Competitors can choose their preference � the character of King Tomislav, Blue Monster, a TDG vehicle or an �Ignis� or the destroyed, but fertile environment named �Vacuo�. If you want, you can also create your own independent content. Since it is just a concept, not a finished product, we invite you to join this challenge and help us create The Game. While doing so you can win tickets for the IFCC festival and other cool prizes!
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You might think �hey, well this is easy�. Actually � no it�s not. Although it doesn�t have to have as much elements as character or vehicle have, good logo is not easy to do. Not true? Prove it.
Feel free to use one or more of these subjects as inspiration for your design(s), or create a design based on your own concept:
● King Tomislav was a very powerful figure in Croatian history. He was a ruler of Croatia in the Middle Ages. He reigned from around 910 until 928 AD, first as the duke of the Duchy of Croatia and then, from 925, as the first king of the Croatian Kingdom. Tomislav is celebrated as the first Croatian King and the founder of the first united Croatian state. Since historical sources on Tomislav are scarce, the exact year of his accession and his death are not known and most of his reign is shrouded in mystery. In order to successfully complete the challenge you must best the rest by producing an outstanding piece of design work that will display the power and magnitude of the first Croatian king and all his mystical glory.
● CHARACTER DESIGN > BLUE MONSTER (or just Blue)
● The second subject is Blue Monster. Let us explain something regarding Blue: the word �monster� derives from Latin monstrum, an aberrant occurrence, usually biological, that was taken as a sign that something was wrong within the natural order. Sea monsters specifically are sea-dwelling mythical or legendary creature, often believed to be of immense size. Marine monsters can take many forms, including sea dragons, sea serpents or multi-armed beasts. They can be slimy or scaly and are often pictured threatening ships or spouting jets of water. The definition of a �monster� is subjective and some sea monsters may have been based on scientifically accepted creatures such as whales and types of giant squid. Our Blue monster is a docile, kind natured creature, not big physically but big hearted. His appearance is disturbing, but his intentions are not. We do not think of him as a monster. He is just Blue. Or is she just blue?
● The third subject is �Ignis�, a vehicle for transporting (and using if necessary) dangerous goods. �Ignis� operates on the ground and also in the air for transporting the following: explosive substances and articles, gases including compressed, liquified and dissolved under pressure gases and vapors, flammable gases (e.g. butane, propane acetylene), non-flammable and non-toxic gases that are likely to cause asphyxiation (e.g. nitrogen, CO2) , oxidisers (e.g. oxygen), toxic compounds (e.g. Chlorine, Phosgene), flammable liquids, flammable solids, self-reactive substances and solid desensitized explosives, substances likely to cause spontaneous combustion, substances which in contact with water emit flammable gases, radioactive materials and infectious substances. There are so many dangerous substances out there and we think you got the idea.
● Last, but not least is �Vacuo�, an innocent, clear, pure environment that is just waiting to be created. It is a fertile ground, but not completely fulfilled. It will be filled with plants and creatures. It is an isolated area with exotic waters in which different and mesmerising vegetation grows and blooms. Some unknown creatures are known to wander to Vacuo; mostly insects, small reptiles and rodents. When the vegetation is in bloom birds are known to fly there. The most exotic parrots and pelicans have been seen there, breathtaking in in color. Vacuo isn�t empty it�s just at its genesis. It flourishes with life just like an oasis in the desert.
● Be creative, think of your own character, vehicle or environment. It�s not that hard. Or is it?
Everyone's a winner! Check out the prizes!!
The rules:
Follow these simple rules to avoid disqualification:
1. You must be over 18 years old to enter this challenge.
2. You must show at least 3 phases of the work in progress (wip).
3. You must submit your wip images, as well as the final image, to one of the following websites: 3DTotal (forums), CGMeetup or Infected by Art.
4. You must submit LINKS to wip images, and upload the FINAL IMAGE in the form at the IFCC website: http://ifcc-croatia.com/the-game-2015/ (Look for 'Submit your design here!')
5. The final image can be submitted as digital (2D, 3D, photobashing�) OR traditional artwork (acrylic, oil, watercolor�), OR a mix of both.
6. You can submit in multiple categories but you can win prizes only in one.
7. You can submit up to 5 entries, one by one.
8. You are allowed to submit your old works but only if they are unpublished and as long as you can provide at least 3 wip images.
9. Larger dimension must be at a 1200 px minimum.
10. Image(s) must be JPG in RGB mode.
11. You are not allowed to contact any of judges directly to ask questions related to this challenge.
12. The Game Judges IFCC special guests can submit their works but can not win any prizes. IFCC Guest artists can submit their works and win all prizes, except IFCC tickets. If any IFCC Guest artists win in any category, the ticket will automatically go to the next best artist.
13. All questions related to this challenge should be submitted to �The Game Challenge� Facebook Group.
14. You are allowed to use Verold service to upload your 3D low-poly model as an addition to your submission and add a link to it to your description.
15. You are allowed to create a video as addition to your submission and add link to it to your description.
16. No copies allowed: all submissions must be original (yes, photobashing can also result with original artwork).
17. Your work can be inspired by the work of other artists but you have to mention their names in description of your work.
18. Pornographic and obscene content is not allowed.
19. You are welcome to post your WIP images and other content to �The Game Challenge� Facebook Group
The judges
● JON SCHINDEHETTE, Founder of the ArtOrder community and Creative Director at ThinkGeek Solutions > website
● ANDRE LOURENCO, Founder of the THU (Trojan Horse was a Unicorn) > website
● MIKE HILL, Concept Designer > website
● ANTHONY JONES, Concept Artist > website
● TONI BRATINCEVIC, Senior Environment modeler at Blizzard Entertainment > website
● JANA SCHIRMER, Freelance Illustrator > website
● MICHAL KUS, Freelance Concept Artist > website
● HASAN BAJRAMOVIC, 3D Character Artist > website
● JUSTIN GOBY FIELDS, co-owner and 3D Character Artist at IronKlad Studios > website
● MIKE AZEVEDO, Concept Artist > website
Important dates:
● CHALLENGE STARTS > Monday, 12th January 2015
● CHALLENGE ENDS > Monday, 9th March 2015
Q: Am I eligible to enter this challenge?
A: Yes, if you are over 18.
Q: What if I don�t win and there are no IFCC tickets left?
A: You can buy a ticket now. If you win you will get your money back.
Q: Who owns my work after I submit it to this challenge?
A: You do.
Q: Can I submit more than one design?
A: Yes!
Q: Can I submit my old works?
A: Yes!
Q: Where can I upload my work?
A: Upload your work at one of the following websites: 3DTotal, CGMeetup, Infected by Art
Q: Why do I need to publish at least 3 WIP images prior to my final image?
A: It is very important for the jury to see the process behind the work
Q: Can I contact judges and ask them questions about this challenge and my work?
A: Only if you want to be disqualified.
IMPORTANT: For any other questions, please head to the IFCC's The Game Challenge Facebook Group to pitch your question and get answers.
Terms & Conditions:
1. Challenge is open to all competitors 18 years or older, because some submissions may contain adult themes.
2. Competitors must be the authors of the submitted work and are not permitted to submit works on behalf of any other individual or entity.
3. Competitors by registering their works do not lose, indulge or in any way cease to be the authors of the submitted work.
4. By entering the competition competitors warrant that they are the sole copyright holder and indemnifies 3dtotal, IFCC and Boonika Association from any subsequent claims that may arise regarding ownership, or any other claims that may impact upon the entered work.
5. Multiple entries are not just allowed, but are desirable.
6. All submissions should be original and not a derivation or a version of an existing work. However, you are allowed to use photos which are not protected by a copyright for photobashing.
7. You must submit at least 3 stages of Work in Progress (wips), which must be clearly uploaded to the challenge page.
8. Final image can be submitted as digital (2D, 3D, photobashing�) or traditional artwork (acrylic, oil, watercolor�).
9. Submissions must remain unpublished outside of The IFCC Game Challenge prior to the closing of the challenge.
10. Images must meet the nominal decency guidelines. Any image that is considered to contain any kind of hate speech that encourages violation or is itself violating racial, ethnic, religious, gender, sexual, etc. rights will be disqualified and removed. Interpretation of what is, and is not, appropriate material is the sole discretion of The IFCC Game Challenge committee, IFCC, 3dtotal, and lastly the Boonika Association.
11. Neither 3dtotal, IFCC, Boonika or partners will be held responsible for late entries for any reason. It is the sole responsibility of the competitors to submit their works on time and count in the upload time, if necessary.
12. Submissions will be judged on artistic and technical merit within the scope of the challenge theme. The interpretation of these rules, the theme, artistic or technical merit of the work and any other consideration made by the judges is at the sole discretion of the judges.
13. Judges� decisions are final and are not to be affected in any way.
14. To be eligible for prizes, all winning competitors must provide accurate and reliable contact details. IFCC and Boonika will make all reasonable efforts to contact winners for a period of 5 calendar days after the completion of Judging. If a winner can not be contacted within this period then they can be disqualified at the sole discretion of IFCC and Boonika.
15. Any import taxes or duties on prizes must be paid by the prize winner. It is neither practically possible nor ethically reasonable for Boonika or any of the partners to pay duties and taxes on behalf of a winner. Boonika and partners will not make false valuation claims to assist winners from evading any applicable duties and taxes.
16. The winners grant Boonika and partners the rights to use the competitors name, imprimatur and likeness in conjunction with the use of their entered works in any press and media.
17. The competitor indemnifies 3dtotal, Boonika and partners against any claims or indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages from any party that may arise from any use, including but not limited to, publication of entry materials submitted as a part of, or in association with the challenge.
18. The winners grant 3dtotal, Boonika and partners the rights to publish their submitted work in any press and media.
19. Competitors commit to notify Boonika in writing at least one week prior to the publication of their work in any press and media.
20. All artwork that is submitted by the deadline is final; it can not be removed or changed after this point. 3dtotal or Boonika will not return any material submitted or altered any entry.
21. The judges have sole discretion in the interpretation and enforcement of rules, including but not limited to the suspension of categories and entrants.
22. It is the competitor's responsibility to ensure compliance with all rules. Disqualification of any competitor is not reflected in any public change of status or alteration of their entry.
23. There is no agreement or contract between the artist and 3dtotal or Boonika. The artist assumes all responsibility and costs for delivering images and other required information to the Publisher for consideration in the competition.
24. Boonika reserves the right to suspend, shorten, modify or cancel the challenge at its sole discretion.
25. There is no chance component in the selection of winning entries. Winning entries will be chosen solely on the skill exhibited by the submissions as determined by the judges.
26. Boonika will take reasonable measures to ensure the security of submissions and information supplied to them. In no event shall 3dtotal or Boonika be liable to any party, for indirect, special, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of the loss of images and data supplied, even if Boonika has been advised of the possibility of such loss and damages.
27. 3dtotal and Boonika's core team and their relatives can not compete in the Challenge.
28. Employees and relatives of 3dtotal and Boonika's partners cannot compete in the Challenge.
29. Challenge Judges can compete in the Challenge but they cannot win prizes. IFCC Guest artists can compete in the challenge but they cannot win IFCC tickets.
30. Other than the rights assigned in the preceding clauses, competitors retain the copyright of all entered materials and are free to use said materials for personal promotions or for commercial purposes.
31. The winners grant Boonika and partners unlimited, non-exclusive permission to use the winning artwork for promotional purposes in any press and media. In such circumstances Boonika will notify the artist and will publish full and correct credits for the artist that will appear with any reproduction of the winning artwork.
This list of terms and conditions constitutes the complete and exclusive statement of the terms and conditions and supersedes any prior terms and conditions, oral or written, and any other communications relating to these terms and conditions.
Lynette Clee - 3DTotal Staff
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Last edited by Lynette-3dt; 02-03-2015 at 03:29 PM.. Reason: Extension on deadline - fom 2 March to 9 March 2015
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nice challenge!
so I could participate with my demon model that I'm working on for two weeks now?
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That's correct! You are allowed to submit your existing works as long as they are unpublished and you can provide at least 3 WIP images to show the progress. Looking forward to seeing your work!
Lynette Clee - 3DTotal Staff
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hi Lynette, forgive me if it�s a stupid question, but unpublished means that no image of the work has been in any internet forum?? I mean if I have a model started but I have already shared some of the process, I could not use it for the contest??
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Maybe I can help. "Unpublished" means that it's not used for some other product like book, game or film for which someone else claims rights. It is very important that author owns rights for the work of art he or she wants to submit. So for example - you can submit design that you have created for some video game but only if you own rights to use that design for anything else. Hope it helps.
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Lynette Clee - 3DTotal Staff
Follow us! Facebook.com/3DTotal
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BTW folks, forum user zets is the IFCC's Marko Prpic Zets, so he can also help with any questions about this challenge. Thanks!
Lynette Clee - 3DTotal Staff
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Thanks Lynette. I would just like to add - Any question related to this challenge or any technical problems you may encounter (login, registration and similiar) can also be submited to �The Game Challenge� Facebook Group or addressed trough IFCC contact form.
|Greatzets! Thank you:
Lynette-3dt (13-01-2015)
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Thanks a lot guys!! is completly clear now
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Just wanted to ask about the Blue monster Character. So do you want a Blue Sea Monster or are you saying no to the literal meaning of the word monster? It confused me reading the first bit. Then it says "Our Blue monster is a docile, kind natured creature, not big physically but big hearted. His appearance is disturbing, but his intentions are not. We do not think of him as a monster. He is just Blue. Or is she just blue?" so it makes me think the latter, you want people to avoid the Blue sea monster? or am i wrong
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You're not wrong, but you're not right either. Open your mind. You don't have to follow that description if it's too confusing for you but you'll have to write your own description when you'll be submitting your own design. Just make it work
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This is a awesome challenge, i agree and participate
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I don't really understand the topic for the LOGO DESIGN challenge. What is the task, what should it represent - the game and it's vast worlds, a particular area, organization.
I hope this does not violate the rules.
Thank you
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I might have to try this challenge
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The west of Ireland has long been a magnet for writers, artists, playwrights and musicians – all inspired by the soft light, the gentle mists and almost ethereal scenery, so let yourself be enchanted.
Tradition is alive and well, especially around the Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) areas of Galway, Mayo and Donegal, where you can happily converse in English or try your hand at learning to speak as gaeilge (in Irish) with the locals. The islanders off the Atlantic Coast, in particular, embrace their rich cultural heritage in their everyday lives, with many still living off the land, surrounded by ancient stone walls as they tend to their livestock, or trawling the pristine ocean for fresh fish and shellfish.
Much of the West's landscape is blanketed in naturally wild bogland, which boasts a unique multi-hued flora and fauna that spreads across undulating vistas and oozes a mesmerizing and soothing scent. For hundreds of years, this amazing land has also been dug by hand with sods of turf dried and burnt as fuel. The aroma is unmistakeable, and one that warmly welcomes you to the fireside in many pubs, restaurants, hotels and B&B's across the area.
Explore the extensive coastline, which snakes from savage rocky cliffs and inlets with crashing ocean waves into calm, glassy bays adorned by golden sands. The West is a voyage of discovery and includes some of Ireland's most iconic sights, such as the dramatic Cliffs of Moher, County Clare, the startlingly beautiful, Connemara National Park, County Galway, and the awe-inspiring Slieve League Cliffs, County Donegal. The hustle and bustle of Galway city is certainly not to be missed, with the atmosphere reaching fever pitch during its many festivals.
There's plenty to amuse and explore inland too – the mountains and heather-dusted moors of Donegal the peaceful River Shannon, which meanders its way through Leitrim, Offaly and Limerick; the literary landscapes of Yeats County Sligo; and the impressive castles and stately homes of Roscommon, Tipperary and Mayo. Go on, soothe your senses with a trip to the wild and wonderful West of Ireland.
Leave Newport, County Mayo, along the shore of Clew Bay, on the N59 south for Connemara, County Galway. Stop at Kylemore Abbey, beautifully situated overlooking a lake. Originally a millionaire's mansion, it's now home to Ireland's Benedictine nuns. Spend the rest of your day exploring Connemara. In the mountains of the National Park you'll find adventure sports galore, or you can take easier option and laze on any one of the sparkling white beaches that fringe the coastline. We recommend an overnight stay in the pretty fishing village of Roundstone, County Galway.
Total Mileage: 63 miles
Follow the N59 from Roundstone leading to Galway city, which enjoys a strong artistic heritage and boasts a rich arts and culture scene, so take time out to wander around before getting back in the car. Find your way to the N18 and R460 and head towards The Burren in County Clare, which boasts a magical Karst limestone landscape scattered with ancient settlements, tombs, and enchanting flora and fauna. The Cliffs of Moher to the west are unmissable and literally bring you to the edge of the world. Lahinch, a little to the south, is a good place to overnight, with yet another amazing beach that surfers will adore.
Total mileage: 110 miles
From Lahinch, it's a short drive north to Doolin, which is often referred to as the capital of Irish traditional music. After you've tapped your feet to the sound of the bodhran (small Irish drum) and fiddle, make your way to the harbour, park the car and catch the ferry to the Aran islands. Just 20 minutes later, you'll find yourself besotted by the warm and wonderful sense of tradition here, with a wild beauty that captures the soul. Try to spend the day exploring the islands and their landscapes of limestone rock. A veritable outdoor museum of artefacts and cultural importance, the first language is Gaelic, but the failte (welcome) goes far beyond words. Overnight on the islands or in Doolin, County Clare the choice is yours.
Total mileage 12 miles
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On to Sligo from Doolin, using the N67, N18 and N17. Ancient history lovers may wish to divert to the Ceide Fields site at Carrowmore, County Mayo. It will extend today's journey considerably but as this is Ireland's largest megalithic site boasting over 60 tombs, plus a fascinating heritage centre relaying tales of our ancestors from 200 generations ago, it is definitely worth it. Next stop is Sligo town, which has a long and enviable literary heritage. The town's most famous son was the poet WB Yeats, and the surrounding area is full of reminders as to why he was so inspired to write his beautiful works. Yeats is buried at Drumcliff just to the north of Sligo town, with his grace marked in the shadow of Benbulben Mountain. You may also want to wander around nearby Lissadell House and Gardens, an inspiration for the poet, who often spent time there.
Total mileage: 145 miles
From Sligo town, journey north to Donegal along the scenic N15 coastal road. Break your journey with lunch in pretty Donegal town, which lies along the River Eske and sports the Bluestack Mountains as an impressive backdrop. Then go eastbound on the N56 and R263 to Slieve League to marvel at Europe's highest sea cliffs. Head inland again to Glenveagh National Park - this huge area of mountain, lake and forest is a great place to spot wildlife - from red deer to recently re-introduced Golden Eagles - and marks a beautiful end to your journey. It's a relatively short trip on the N56 east through Letterkenny, and then the N13 and A2 to Londonderry, where you can relax and unwind in some of the city's excellent pubs and restaurants before heading home.
Total Mileage: 127 miles
And if you have more time...
- Do a Donegal Bay Sea Safari where you can get up close to the wildlife; take a detour up to the Bloody Forelands, or head to the Glenties in Donegal.
- Check out Achill Island off the coast of County Mayo. The largest of Ireland's islands; habitation dates back to Neolithic times and the Michael Davitt Bridge joins it to the mainland, so you can bring your car with you.
- All aboard the steam train at The Cavan & Leitrim Railway Dromod, County Leitrim.
- The Medieval Bunratty Castle, County Clare, runs along the Shannon Estuary and is wonderfully furnished with tapestries, artefacts and paintings - make sure to explore the Great Hall, the dungeons and the four towers.
- Renowned as Ireland's prettiest village, Adare, County Limerick is picture postcard perfect and a joy to visit.
- King John's Castle is a 13th century Castle in Limerick city. Discover history at its best, magnificent views and life in Norman times.
- The Hunt Museum in Limerick City, exhibits one of Ireland's greatest private collections of art and antiquities.
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Facing out onto the Atlantic Ocean, Killary Harbour is in the heart of Connemara
On the morning of 15 June, 1919, a Vickers Vimy biplane swooped low through the skies over Clifden…
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St. Anne: the patron saint of guilds, women, mothers and laymen. Legend has it that the church in Alt Krüssow, Brandenburg with St. Anne's robe was a major pilgrimage destination in the Middle Ages. Pilgrims can now retrace the saint's steps on the St. Anne's Path pilgrimage trail.
It was not just St. Anne's robe that inspired believers to make their way to Alt Krüssow in Brandenburg in the Middle Ages. Many crutches could still be found in the church in the 18th century, long after the Reformation, which put a temporary stop to pilgrimages, even in Prignitz. They belonged to those who were waiting for a miracle and had returned home full of hope...
St. Anne's Path, a 22 km circular route connecting the pilgrimage church in Heiligengrabe to Alt Krüssow and the rural church in Bölzke, was established in 2011 based on the pilgrimage to Alt Krüssow. With the clouds above their heads and the path beneath their feet, pilgrims can go on a humbling hike through forests and fields and explore their inner self. There are plenty of benches along the route for those who want to relax and dwell on their thoughts. It is impossible to get lost on this pilgrimage route, as the stones labelled "Annenpfad" show pilgrims the way and make it easy for all, even those with little experience! Every year, Maundy Thursday marks the start of the St. Anne's Path's pilgrimage season. Pilgrims seeking depictions of St. Anne can find them in the Church of St. Nicholas in Pritzwalk, Heiligengrabe Abbey or in the chapel of the church in Alt Krüssow, where St. Anne dominates the decorative altar (for information (in German) on guided tours, visit: www.wallfahrtskirche-alt-kruessow.de).
Total length of route: 22 km circular route
Pilgrim hostels: not required
Starts/ends: Heiligengrabe
Arrival/departure options: change at Berlin Central Station for regional express trains to Heiligengrabe
Departure options: Heiligengrabe
About the route: day tour; pilgrims can choose to start the route in Heiligengrabe, Bölzke or Alt Krüssow
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A Treat Tonight (Une douceur ce soir?)
An attempt to DIY-construct an outdoor bread oven is meticulously planned and seems to be going well. However, when the moment of truth arrives, the result is a column of white smoke visible one mile down East Colfax. Denver police arrive on the scene, to find out 'what the blazes' is going on. Continue reading
Posted in Dreams and Schemes, Food and Cuisine, Music, Reminiscence, Stories, Stories and Songs, Tim Weil Tagged Alex Estes, boulangerie, cuisine, Denver, East Colfax, French bread, George Thorogood, Robbie Burns, Robert Burns, Spencer Davis, The Rolling Stones Comments Off on A Treat Tonight (Une douceur ce soir?)